Woman charged in theft of Columbus Division of Fire equipment, including transport van

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – One person has been arrested in connection with the theft of more than $300,000 worth of firefighting equipment from the Columbus Division of Fire.

According to court documents, multiple suspects are believed to have stolen expensive operational firefighting equipment, including a marked Columbus Fire Department transport van in the early morning hours of March 30.

Police said the suspects forcibly entered the Columbus Division of Fire Training Academy on Parsons Avenue in South Columbus. GPS data then showed the stolen van leaving the property at 2:20 a.m.

Surveillance video from multiple locations shows an orange Chevrolet Avalanche pickup truck in the area before the theft, parked nearby the Training Academy at the time of the break-in, and was seen following the stolen van immediately after it left the property.

The stolen transport van and the orange pickup truck reportedly traveled approximately 30 miles over a 53-minute period, in and around Franklin County as well as Pickaway County.

Police observed the vehicles on Fontaine Road in the far east side of the city, where small components of the stolen equipment, such as radio cords and clips, were found discarded on the ground. Video surveillance shows individuals moving between the stolen van and the pickup truck at that location.

The investigation, with the assist of FLOCK cameras, tracked the registration of the pickup truck to 49-yaer-old Stephanie Ramirez, of Groveport, who is charged with burglary. Ramirez was issued a $750,000 bond in Franklin County Municipal Court Monday morning and is slated to next appear in court on April 15 for a preliminary hearing.